We're excited by the trip but ready to go home. We've never missed NJ so much.
But there is more excitement for the day...our anniversary is coming up, and our friend Bia has agreed to make all the arrangement at a local restaurant (thanks Bia!).
But first...more soccer. Argentina is in the Round of 16 today, as is the US, who face Belgium.
I spend the morning arranging a rental car for our layover in Sao Paolo later in the week. I give up on finding a hotel for that day. We get in at 3 am. I don't know if they'll even hold a reservation that late.
We print boarding passes for our flight tomorrow night.
It is already close to noon. We grab a light bite in the bodega downstairs and set off heading south. We avoid Mario's beach.
Last night, Zach and I walked this stretch for the first time, and there is some action here at night. People jog and exercise in outdoor parks. Food vendors fill a square by the blue church that I saw last night from our friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend's soccer court.
We walk a mile or two and shop for souvenirs and gifts. I show Michele where Zach played soccer, and the airlock leading to the apartment's soccer and tennis courts. We take photos of the blue church.
We wander through some reasonably urban but safe-looking parts of town. It is time to find some lunch and the Messi game. We duck into a small motel lobby and get directions to a local cafeteria-style restaurant (por Kilo). It is packed with a lunchtime crowd, hoping to watch Messi defeat the Swiss.
We order a coffee and some juice. The waiter brings a sub-arctic beer in its own sarcophagus-shaped cooler. The kids decide they want some food. We sit for about an hour watching the game, still tied and going to overtime.
Kids are sick and exhausted, so we walk home and watch Messi's assist in overtime back at the apartment.
Michele and I make plans to watch the US-Belgium R16 game in a US-friendly bar.
We take a cab to "The Underground" in time for kick-off and find a seat at the bar. We order a caipirinha (no lime shortage here), a beer, and some onion rings. We're saving room for tonight's dinner. As overtime looms, I ask my friend to delay the reservation. The joke's on me...an 8:00 reservation means you're not expected until 9:00 anyway.
The US keeps it interesting but ultimately loses. The bar is devastated. We have already moved on.
A friend picks us up for dinner and we head to a great Brazilian barbeque dinner at Churrascaria Ponteio recommended by one of the Raphaels and joined by the other.
We are joined by many of the wonderful friends we've met during our stay (our familia brasiliero).
The waiters bring around all sorts of grilled meats on long skewers. Each diner has tongs to grab the meat as it is sliced off the skewer. We try chicken heart. It is gamey but Andrew Zimmern would be proud.
Bia has arranged flowers, balloons, and a cake. We receive several thoughtful gifts. A grand time is had by all.
Final cost for dinner for ten at a fancy restaurant is about that of a single Cat 1 ticket to a Round of 16 playoff game at the nearby Arena Pernambuco.
Such is Brazil, where a hamburger can cost you $12.50 USD at Carl's Jr., but you can eat an amazing meal with wine for under $25 USD.
Wanna try Brazilian barbeque? You'll find them wherever there is a large Brazilian population. Google for "Churrascaria in New York city" or "Churrascaria in Newark".
Happy Anniversary, Love.
Boa noite to all!
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